Long Island's Third Gluten-Free Vendor Fair

Coming April 26, 2009!

Have you marked your calendar yet? After a hiatus, Long Island's Gluten-Free Vendor Fair will return on April 26, 2009 at IBEW Local 25, 370 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge.

The vendors so far:

Joan’s GF Great Bakes
Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies
The Diet Shop
Meadow Foods
Get Healthy America
Gluten Free Passport
Mari Productions
Food Tek
Gaga’s
Schar USA
Enjoy Life Natural Brands
Everybody Eats
Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods
Pamela’s Products
Little Bay Baking Co.
Mr. Ritts Bakery
Two Fresh Chefs
Mama’s Restaurant
Shabtai Gourmet Bakery
The Silly Yak Bakery
Azure Chocolate
Allergy Friendly Foods
Outrageous Foods
The L. Lodico Walk for Celiac Disease
Organic Bistro Whole Life Meals
Full Flavor Foods
Caesar’s Pasta Products
Kitchen Table Bakers
Domata Living Flour

The event sponsor is Hauppauge's Personal Communications Devices; its host is Suffolk County Celiacs, which is now meeting in Riverhead as well as West Islip.

REMINDER: JOAN'S GF GREAT BAKES

As mentioned previously, amazing bagelmaker Joan's GF Great Bakes plans a grand opening celebration for its new facilities at 1905 A Bellmore Avenue in Bellmore, Long Island (516-804-5600) from 11am to 3pm on Sunday, June 29, 2008.

A half-mile walk or ride north of the Bellmore LIRR station, the event is on the schedules of the New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group (NYCCDMG) and the Long Island Celiac Disease Meetup (LICDM).

As you may know, Joan's bagels (now sold in plastic bags rather than hard plastic containers) come frozen and require about 22 minutes of baking. So bring coolers suitable for traveling with them or any other available products, including English muffins that are free of eggs and dairy as well as wheat. I don't know how much of Joan's stock will be available, but you probably can't go wrong showing up early.

Can't make it to the grand opening? Joan's products recently became available in New York City at Health Nuts stores in Manhattan (1208 2nd Ave
New York, 212-593-0116) and Queens (211-35 26th Avenue
Queens, 718-225-8164). She also maintains lists of her New York and non-New York retailers. And you can sometimes find Joan as a vendor at support group meetings and other events in the greater metropolitan area. Here she is at last year's Long Island Vendor Fair.


















Photo: David Marc Fischer

METRO NY BALLOON & MUSIC FESTIVAL 2007

What could be more uplifting than a balloon festival?

How about a balloon festival plus the opportunity to raise money with the Suffolk County Celiacs?

This weekend the Suffolk Country Celiacs, originators of Long Island's Gluten Free Vendor Fair, will get a percentage of the proceeds from a beverage concession it is operating at the 2007 Metro NY Balloon & Music Festival in Suffolk County.

I understand there are plenty of volunteers for Saturday, but that some are still needed for Sunday. For more information about helping out, call Barbara at 631-553-9161.

Here's some time-lapse video from a Reno balloon race back in 2006.



Source (1:09)

FOLLOW-UP: GLUTEN-FREE VENDOR FAIR 2007

Now that Erin of Gluten-Free Fun has overcome certain horrific technical difficulties, she's posted a fun slideshow of last month's Gluten-Free Vendor Fair. Welcome back to blogland, Erin!

Other coverage can be found at vendor Mike Eberhart's Gluten Free Blog.

I neglected to mention a bunch of things myself...but...I note that Natural Feast was another vendor who journeyed some distance to attend--from somewhere up in New England!

And remember how I mentioned that Mr. Ritt's was on the move to Millville, New Jersey? This weekend is the official grand opening of the new Garden State site of this gluten-free bakery (at Second and Vine Streets; 856-825-8770), purveyors of assorted baked goodies including sachertorte, linzertorte, cheesecake, and (my favorite) moist cakes with buttercream frosting.

From earlier this year, here's a shot of work on an exterior mural at the bakery's new digs, which for now will be open on weekends and "by appointment."

















Photo courtesy Mr. Ritt's

JOAN'S GF GREAT BAKES















Is there anyone out there who doesn't love the bagels from Joan's GF Great Bakes? Perhaps you recall that I raved about 'em back in June, after getting a taste at the first Long Island Gluten-Free Vendor Fair (pictured above). And just days ago, CeliacChick Kelly revealed Joan's "secret to good taste."

Joan's GF Great Bakes is scheduled to be at the 2007 Gluten-Free Vendor Fair on Sunday, April 29, in Farmingdale. The bagels and other goodies are still not sold in the Big Apple, but they can be shipped...and also bought from the following retailers outside the city. Joan (second from the right) suggests you call ahead to make sure the goodies will be there for you or your designated buyer.

The Happy Carrot
636 Kinderkamack Road
River Edge, NJ
201-986-0818

Sweet Karma Desserts
550 East Meadow Avenue
East Meadow (Long Island)
516-794-4478

The Diet Shop
600-16 Portion Road
Ronkonkoma (Long Island)
631-981-0882

Cornucopia
39 N. Main Street
Sayville (Long Island)
631-589-9579

Photo: David Marc Fischer